Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team received double-digit kills from four players en route to a four-set victory (25-16, 25-13, 23-25, 25-22) over visiting Seattle Pacific in its 2012 home opener at The Swamp.
Meagan Wright (.448) tied for match-high honors with 14 kills,
Kelly Ostello and
Megan Johnson notched 13 apiece, while
Jaclyn Clark launched 10 put-aways of her own to help the Gators keep their perfect record intact at 3-0. Johnson also posted a team-best 18 digs for her ninth career double-double, while
Iris Tolenada doubled up on the stat sheet as well with 49 assists and 10 scoops to go along with four of the squad's 12 service aces on the evening.
Conversely, the Falcons, who were paced by Nikki Lowell's 14 kills and Breanna Leenders match-high 24 digs, slip to 2-3 on the year.
SPU recorded more attack errors (15) than kills (14) in the first two sets as SF State built a commanding 2-0 advantage. The Gators, meanwhile, hit at a .373 clip during that span on 28 kills in 59 attempts with just six errors, building double-digit leads they would not relinquish.
The Falcons regrouped in the third frame, however, as the two sides combined for 13 ties and five lead changes. SPU's offense came to life with Lowell and Cailin Fellows knocking down 10 of the team's 15 kills. Still, SF State had a chance to complete the sweep, holding serve with the score tied at 23-23. But the Falcons dashed those plans with back-to-back kills by Fellows and Jackie Arnold to remain alive.
Set number four was another tight affair in the early going as the Gators nursed a slim 7-6 lead. Moments later, SF State uncorked a timely 15-10 run, capped by an Ostello kill, to open a seemingly comfortable 22-16 advantage. SPU refused to surrender at this juncture as two put-aways by Jessica Miller and a combined block by Arnold and Ellie Britt nudged the visitors to within 24-22. However, the Purple and Gold withstood the challenge, with a Clark kill providing the clinching point. Clark, who also tallied three aces, registered 14 digs as well to finish with SF State's third double-double of the match.
The Gators will return to action on Friday, Sept. 7, when they tackle Academy of Art University (11:30 a.m.) and Fresno Pacific (4:30 p.m.) on day one of the Route 92 Showdown on the campus of Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. The scene then shifts across the San Mateo Bridge to Notre Dame de Namur University the following day when SF State battles Cal Baptist (11:30 p.m.) and co-host NDNU (7 p.m.) in Belmont.
